By: Fern Sidman

In a rapidly evolving and deeply complex diplomatic landscape, Egyptian sources involved in mediation efforts have suggested that a critical breakthrough in negotiations between Israel and Hamas may be on the horizon. Speaking to the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, these Egyptian mediators conveyed growing optimism, hinting that developments over the last several hours have paved the way for potential progress, as was reported by VIN News who cited Al-Akhbar as a key source of insight into behind-the-scenes diplomatic maneuvers.

Despite this cautious optimism, serious roadblocks remain. According to Al-Akhbar, Israel has maintained a firm stance in the face of several diplomatic overtures, as was reported on Thursday by VIN News. Most notably, Israel continues to reject any ceasefire or hostage deal that does not include the release of all Israeli hostages in a single phase. This position has led to the rejection of a recent American proposal, which offered an extension of the current ceasefire until April 20 and increased humanitarian access into Gaza, in exchange for the release of just five hostages by Hamas. Israel, according to VIN News, has declined this phased release structure outright.

Similarly, a proposal advanced by Egypt—one that was reportedly met with a favorable response from Hamas—was also dismissed by Israel. That plan, according to Israel’s Kan 11 and cited by VIN News, suggested that several hostages be released in return for a cessation of Israeli hostilities and expanded humanitarian access into the Gaza Strip. Israeli officials have rejected this as insufficient and inconsistent with their strategic objectives.

The intricate web of diplomacy now also involves the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is reportedly playing a dual role: acting as a mediator between Washington and Cairo, and working on an ambitious, albeit controversial, plan to reshape Gaza’s future governance and demography. VIN News, citing Al-Akhbar, revealed that Abu Dhabi is attempting to secure Cairo’s cooperation for a plan that would include the displacement of Gaza residents. In return, Egypt would receive significant economic support and guarantees that Palestinians would remain in Gaza to a degree that addresses Egypt’s national security concerns—chief among them, the fear of a mass influx of refugees across the Sinai border.

Abu Dhabi’s position, as described in the VIN News report, involves a proposal to relocate terrorist operatives from Gaza to third-party countries, explicitly excluding Egypt as a destination. The plan stipulates that these individuals would be permanently barred from returning to Gaza, a condition to be coordinated with Israel. Meanwhile, their elderly family members would be allowed to stay in the Strip if they chose to do so. Israel, in turn, would supervise the reconstruction of Gaza under security arrangements aligned with its national interests.

These proposals were reportedly discussed during a high-level visit by UAE National Security Advisor Tahnoun bin Zayed to Washington. According to the report on VIN News, Israel has signaled support for Abu Dhabi’s strategic vision, including potential Emirati investments in Gaza, contingent upon stringent oversight and the neutralization of armed terrorist groups.

Meanwhile, on the ground, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza shows no sign of slowing. According to pro-Qatari outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, as reported by VIN News, Egyptian sources claim that Israel is intensifying its operations in southern Gaza—particularly in the city of Rafah, near the Egyptian border—with the intention of pressuring Cairo. One alleged goal of these intensified strikes, including in the Tel Sultan area, is to “embarrass” the Egyptian government by forcing its hand to open the Rafah crossing, effectively creating conditions that could lead to the mass displacement of Palestinians into Egyptian territory.

This military pressure is paired with an ongoing Israeli blockade that is sharply limiting the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. According to the information provided in the VIN News report, this strategy may be part of a broader political calculus aimed at altering facts on the ground while simultaneously leveraging diplomatic tensions among Egypt, the UAE, and the United States.

The Eid ceasefire initiative, according to the Egyptian sources cited by VIN News, was seen in Cairo as an opportunity to reset the deadlocked negotiations and allow for at least a symbolic gesture of humanitarian goodwill. Its dismissal calls attention to the entrenched positions held by both Israel and Washington, who now appear to favor increased pressure—military and political—on Hamas to compel its compliance with existing ceasefire and hostage-release demands.

In tandem with the diplomatic resistance to Egypt’s latest proposal, VIN News has reported explosive new revelations about a controversial strategy Israel has been pursuing behind closed doors. According to a senior Hamas official, Israel has for months been advocating for the deportation of approximately 3,000 Hamas leaders and operatives from Gaza. This proposal, first raised in previous rounds of negotiations, has re-emerged recently as a centerpiece of Israel’s broader strategy to dismantle Hamas’ operational command and effectively “end the war in Gaza,” as Israeli officials have framed it.

The same Hamas official, whose statements were cited by VIN News, alleged that Israel recently presented this deportation list to the Jordanian government. This effort, he said, follows 18 months of failed attempts to gain traction through direct mediation channels. In light of that failure, Israel has reportedly shifted its focus toward engaging regional actors—including Egypt and Jordan—in an attempt to apply multilateral pressure that could result in Hamas’ forced disbandment, or at the very least, the removal of its senior command structure from Gaza.

Meanwhile, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi made a public reaffirmation of his country’s longstanding commitment to the Palestinian cause. As reported by VIN News, el-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s role as a central mediator in efforts to end the conflict and ensure the implementation of a multi-stage ceasefire. In his latest speech, el-Sisi emphasized Egypt’s unshakable stance in promoting regional peace, urging the international community to step up efforts to halt the war and re-establish stability across Gaza and the broader region.

Notably, Egypt’s balancing act has become increasingly delicate. On the one hand, Cairo is under pressure from the United States and Israel to contain Hamas and prevent further cross-border instability. On the other hand, Egypt remains publicly committed to a diplomatic resolution that prioritizes Palestinian national aspirations and humanitarian needs. According to VIN News, this diplomatic tightrope has been further strained by Israeli military actions in southern Gaza, near the Rafah border crossing, which many see as an effort to pressure Egypt into opening its borders to Palestinian civilians—a scenario Cairo has consistently resisted due to concerns over national security and refugee overflow.

Amid this diplomatic quagmire, Hamas’ leadership has adopted a tone of cautious pragmatism. In a speech marking “Laylat al-Qadr,” Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’ top official in Gaza, acknowledged the numerous diplomatic initiatives that have been presented in recent months. According to the information contained in the VIN News report, al-Hayya stated that Hamas has responded to these proposals “positively and responsibly,” and reiterated the group’s willingness to continue negotiations “with full responsibility” to advance its objectives.

While al-Hayya did not specify which proposals Hamas considers viable, his remarks reflect a recognition that the diplomatic window may not remain open indefinitely. The group’s insistence on preserving what it views as legitimate resistance goals continues to clash with Israel’s insistence on total demilitarization, hostage return, and now, potentially, the mass expulsion of its leadership cadre.

The competing visions for Gaza’s future—one shaped by Israeli security imperatives, the other by Palestinian resistance narratives—have left mediators such as Egypt in an increasingly fraught position. As VIN News reported, the gap between ceasefire ambitions and actionable agreements remains wide, and the refusal by Israel and the U.S. to endorse the Eid ceasefire only deepens the perception that a diplomatic breakthrough remains elusive.

With diplomatic initiatives stalling and regional strategies shifting, the international community faces growing pressure to find a path forward—before the window for peace slams shut.